Chapter Text
1.
“Your brother is really cute.” Renly said unthinkingly. Then he paled, once the reality of the words hit him.
Garlan was stock-still in front of him, cutting out decorations for the Halloween mixer. His scissors were open mid-cut as he froze.
“What?” Garlan said. His tone was frighteningly blank, and Renly could only see the tense line of his back.
Renly wanted to die.
“Nothing.” Renly said quickly, turning red. He refocused on the decorative pumpkin and his eyes bored holes into the dark-orange nearing the stalk. Garlan had been telling a story about how one Halloween, when they were children, he had dressed Loras up as a unicorn. Now whenever Garlan brought it up, Loras denied it vehemently. They had both chuckled. Then Renly said what he had said, in the spur of the moment. It could have been taken innocently, if it were anyone else but Garlan and Loras— there was cute, and then there was cute. Either way, it didn't matter; Renly was going to have to defend himself.
He regretted everything.
Garlan turned around and said, too calmly: “Please repeat what you just said about my brother.”
“He’s very— he’s, um. Very.” Renly paused, tentatively searching for the right words. Garlan was beginning to look more and more murderous.
“He’s very what, Renly. Say it.” There was a burgeoning, insistent, crazed edge to his voice.
Renly steeled himself. Garlan and him were long-time friends, and they had been brothers during the hellish pledge weeks of Renly’s freshman year, where Garlan had been an accommodating and generous big. Now, Garlan was visiting him again, and it was supposed to be a fun experience of catching up. Instead, his normally chiseled features were twisted up in a fit of protectiveness. So, Renly was going to tell the truth.
“He’s very good looking.” Renly pushed out, with difficulty. “And I said that he was cute.”
There was a deliberate pause. “I thought you liked women.”
“There nice to look at” Renly said awkwardly. “I like men”
“Oh.” Garlan said, and he looked a little less incensed, now. Suddenly, there was a moment of terrified, utter bleakness on his face.
“You aren’t thinking of dating Loras, are you?” Garlan asked, horrified. The look of repugnant, white terror on his face was somewhat offensive. Renly frowned. “I mean— you’re my favorite little. And one of my closest friends. But he’s my baby brother.”
“I’m not.” Renly sighed, loudly. “I’ve never thought about dating your brother. You can settle down now.”
And with that resolved, Garlan returned to a normal coloring, instead of his pale imitation of a ghost, and they continued to assist in Halloween decorations for their fraternity.
But it was a lie. The truth was this: Renly had certainly thought about dating Loras. And he had thought about sex with him, which was the cherry-on-top, despite knowing it was akin to self-flagellation. Maybe even ritualistic suicide, when it concerned Garlan, because the man was way beyond the embodiment of a simple, good older brother.
Garlan was a good man. In fact, he was quite similar to Renly. It was why they had gotten along so well.
He liked to open the door for old ladies and hold groceries for struggling college girls, who would flush when he smiled at them, and Garlan was the type to save kittens from the gutter or to make sure the kids from their local elementary school crossed the street safely.
But when it concerned Loras, Garlan was a literal, hostile wasp.
He hovered around Loras, buzzing incessantly at anyone who approached with seemingly malicious intent, even though most were harmless. Privately, Renly thought that Loras could take care of himself— he still remembered the incident with Joffrey and the orange. God, that was frightening. But it was as if Garlan’s normally trusting nature dissipated into cautious paranoia.
Renly had thought it was quite amusing to watch. Until, of course, Garlan redirected those tendencies on Renly.
2.
“You don’t think Leonette is interested in Loras, do you?” Garlan asked, worried.
His blonde hair shone in the sunlight as they jogged together, breathing labored. It was a shade darker than Loras’s, a dirtier blond. Renly liked jogging. It was stress-relieving.
“Believe me,” Renly said, “Leonette is not interested in Loras.”
“Then why does she keep finding him and talking to him?” Garlan persisted stubbornly. “She’s too old for him.”
They were stopping now; there was a red light.
Renly scowled. “She’s my age.”
“Like I said,” Garlan replied, “Too old for him.”
3.
The alumni networking event made Renly’s head hurt. He was exhausted already from a tiring day of class, and it had reached a peak point when his Professor had discussed the merits of soil for thirty-minutes straight in his late-night 7PM class.
Since Garlan was a successful alumni, he was there as well. And since Loras was his undergraduate brother, he was also there.
“Hello.” Loras said, and sidled up beside Renly. “You look tired.”
Renly did not look over. Mainly because he was afraid that he wouldn’t be able to stop staring.
“Long day,” Renly replied casually, looking determinedly forward, “How are you?”
And then Loras’ hand was at his elbow, the other at his back, pushing him in the other direction.
“It could be better,” Loras murmured, voice heavy in Renly’s ear, who could feel the warmth of his breath tickling the hairs on his neck. “I am avoiding Oberyn, who has been pestering me all night.”
“Oh?” Renly managed. Loras’ fingers were very long and slender on his arm. “Am I just a diversion to you?"
They stopped, near the drinks table, and Loras smirked coyly at him. His eyelashes were very long and fanned his high cheekbones. Looking at him was an ode to beauty— it was overwhelming.
“You’re a very nice diversion.” Loras said, smiling, and Renly couldn’t keep the helpless smile off his face. Loras was a bit younger than him, but they had met up regularly for things like lunch, since Garlan introduced them, when Loras entered college. The flirting was now a real, tangible thing between them.
They stared at each other for a warm moment.
“Ha ha! Renly!” Garlan said, appearing out of nowhere. Renly cursed his luck and Loras turned to smile at his brother.
“I was just enjoying a conversation with Renly.” Loras said. His side profile was equally as elegant as the front.
“Were you guys? There wasn’t any talking though, just now.” Garlan said, and he slung an easy arm around Loras’ shoulder, grip a little tight against Loras’ nicely pressed shirt. Loras’ lips twitched.
“I suppose you’re right.” Loras said. “Anyway, there are too many of Uncle’s friends here. I should leave.”
“Yes,” Garlan said, voice hardening, “I think you should. Stay safe.”
Loras nodded. They all exchanged goodbye’s, and Renly found his eyes trailing after Loras departing figure, hips swaying, arse looking fine as ever. His life was truly unlucky.
4.
“Perhaps you should simply kill Garlan and just get him out of the picture.” Leonette suppled unhelpfully, when Renly was discussing the issue with her.
“Right,” Renly said, “And where would that leave you?”
A slow, encompassing smile erupted on her beautiful face. “You’re learning to bite back.” She said, sounding pleased and not at all bothered by the jibe thrown at her.
“Men are just men.” She waved an arm nonchalantly, yet the motion was somehow sophisticated.
Everything she did was elegant, much like Loras. They had that, and more, in common. It was was unnerving at times, the similarities between them. But she had feelings for Garlan, and Renly had feelings for Loras. That was how it was.
“Garlan thought that you had feelings for Loras.” Renly mentioned.
“Irrelevant.” Leonette said, picking up a grape delicately and plopping it into her mouth. She had very fine features, salient of a model or perhaps royalty. Renly thought that Garlan would like her, if he got to know her better.
“Well,” Renly sighed, “That’s one way to get his attentions, I suppose.”
Leonette paused, fingers hovering above the plate.
“And you, Renly? How are your affections for mini-Garlan coming along?” There was a teasing lilt to her voice, but Renly trusted her advice.
He was just opening his mouth to speak, when his phone rang.
It was Garlan. Renly lifted his phone to show Leonette the caller ID. She stiffened. Renly kissed his chances of venting goodbye, before picking up the phone.
“Hello, Garlan.” Renly said.
“Did I leave my mug in your room?” Garlan said instantly. “I can’t find it.”
Renly searched his memory, but could find no recollection of whether it was there or not.
“I don’t remember. I can check when I get back.”
“You’re out right now?” Garlan asked, “Are you with Loras?”
Renly’s pause must have been too long, because when he said, “No,” Garlan had a delayed response.
“Give the phone to him.” Garlan said, tone hard.
“I’m not with him!” It was impossible that this was happening to him. Renly was being wrongly accused of colluding with his friend’s younger brother through the phone.
Finally, Leonette plucked the phone out of his grasp and purred, lowly, “Hello Garlan.”
5.
Loras was drunk. Loras was drunk and he did not hold his liquor well. Loras was drunk and in Renly’s bed.
It was a situation of mind-shattering proportions, and Renly’s hands fluttered around uselessly as he attempted to assess the situation. Yet, there was nothing to assess— Loras was not assess-able. He just existed, and that was enough to break Renly’s mental faculties.
The more troublesome problem was that they were in Renly’s fraternity, and he was afraid that a brother would see him and Loras fumbling around, and mistake an attempt to get Loras home as an attempt to get laid. They all knew Loras— Garlan’s precious, darling younger brother.
You touch, you die.
Renly was too young to die.
So, he was going to do his best to get Loras home. And he would eventually get around to confessing his feelings before he graduated while managing to resolve the situation with Garlan. Somehow.
“Let’s get you home, Loras.” Renly said, one arm trying to lift Loras up.
Loras was sprawled lazily across his bed, hair a halo around his face and his honey brown eyes unblinkingly staring at Renly. His shirt was unbuttoned near the top and his lips fell apart as he breathed, chest rising. Renly was suddenly acutely aware of how simultaneously attractive and unattainable he was.
“You don’t want to have sex with me?” Loras asked. This was not happening.
“That would be rape.” Renly said, and tried again to lift Loras up. It should not have been a hard task, but Loras was resisting, gravitating his body weight in the opposite direction.
“So, you don’t want to fuck me.” Loras said, stubbornly.
Renly felt the redness in his face, but duly ignored it. “Loras, you are drunk.”
“I am.” Loras said. “I also want to have sex with you.” He said it with perfect, articulate seriousness.
It was the absolute worst time to be aroused. Renly ignored the painful twinge of attraction in favor of firming his voice.
“Loras,” Renly said, “I will fuck you as many times as you want once you’re sober. But you’re drunk, so you can sleep in my bed, and I can go downstairs and sleep on the couch, ok?”
Loras gave him a hazy smile. “You’re very honorable. And handsome.”
Renly wanted to record the memory forever and keep it encased. The image of Loras, raw and honest, smiling at him like a literal angel, was enough for Renly to promise himself that when the weekend was over, he would ask Loras out. And tell Garlan.
“Also,” Loras spoke up suddenly, “I cannot sleep here.”
Renly furrowed his eyebrows. “Why not?”
“I promised Garlan that I would not sleep in another person’s bed while intoxicated. It’s not safe.”
Renly stared uncomprehendingly. “You just asked to have sex with me!.”
“That’s different.” Loras insisted, “Garlan explicitly told me I’m not allowed to sleep in their bed.”
“You can’t even walk.” Renly pointed out, and Loras stared at him.
“You can carry me out.” Loras said, “Then I can Uber.”
It was the worst idea Renly had ever heard. It was ludicrous that Garlan wasn’t even here, and he was somehow still shutting Renly down. Renly did it anyway— lifting up Loras when he was willing was easier, and very pleasing. The way Loras slotted against Renly’s body was nice.
Then Renly ignored the stares of the brothers in the house, and sent Loras home.
+1
“Hey. Garlan said, “I heard you helped Loras out of your room when he was drunk.”
Renly felt himself instantly go on guard. “I did.”
There was an awkward silence.
“I’m ok with you asking Loras out.” Garlan burst out at the same time Renly said, “I’m sorry, but I’m love with your brother.
Then they looked at each other.
“You’re… okay with it?” Renly repeated, amazed and unable to hide his amazement. Garlan looked offended.
“Of course I’m ok with it. Of all the people to trust him with— it would be you.” Garlan said, and he was being honest now. The wide open look in his eyes and the line of his mouth was familiar.
“But all the posturing earlier— the comments, the cockblocking. Explain yourself.” Renly said, dangerously. Garlan flushed and scratched at the back of his head, a muscled arm leaning against the chair.
“I didn’t know that the feelings were returned,” Garlan managed, embarrassed, “But Loras called me last night and quite severely emphasized that the feelings… were returned. And that I should stop orbiting. He said it was 'only funny in the beginning'.”
The sad, disgruntled look on Garlan’s face was enough to make Renly laugh, with inexplicable joy. The idea that Loras had told his brother that he liked Renly, and had known about Garlan all along (yet had done nothing but watch) was very Loras-like. It was probably telling that Renly found it all endearing, rather than irritating.
“I won’t hurt him.” Renly said, “I know you’ll kill me if I do.”
Garlan laughed. “I know you know. But I don’t think you would hurt him.” The words were chosen carefully, and there was something in his voice that Renly couldn’t identify.
They shared a quiet, secretive, smile.
And when Garlan began with, “About Leonette,” Renly laughed more.